Clamp for sheet piling



A. H. HAUSLER CLAMP FOR SHEET PILING March 23, 1937 Z' Sheet-Sheet 1 Original Filed My 14, 1954 Match 23, 1937. A. H. HAUSLER CLAMP FbR SHEET FILING Original Filed May 14, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'li a/anmfl Patented Mar. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE Original application May 14, 1934, Serial No. 725,491. Divided and this application April 20,

1935, Serial No. 17,401

15 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in clamps for detachably securing together and spacing apart sheet piles, such as those which are commonly driven in the beds of rivers, harbors and the like, in the construction of breakwaters, caissons, cotter-dams and other structures, and the present application is in part a division of my original co-pending application Serial No.

725,491, filed May 14, 1934, in which there is described and claimed an improved method of driving sheet piling together with apparatus for use in the practice of that method, including the clamp of the present invention. The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved clamp which may be employed for spacing apart the lateral edges of adjacent sheet piles, or groups of sheet piles, during the formation of breakwaters, caissons, coffer-dams and the like. A further object of the invention is to provide an improved clamp by which adjacent sections of assembled sheet piling may be held in proper spaced relation during the driving of the pile. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved clamp for detachably engaging the lateral edges of interlocking sheet piling so that adjacent piles or adjacent groups of piles may be spaced uniformly apart throughout their length before being driven in order to permit a connecting pile to be subsequently put in place after removal of the clamp or spacing device.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved clamp comprising relatively movable clamping members which may be detachably secured together for interlocking with the lateral edges of adjacent sheet piles. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved spacing i device for sheet piles comprising adjustable parts for varying the spaced relation of the lateral edges of the sheet piles which are engaged thereby. Other objects relate to various features of construction and arrangement which will appear more fully'hereinafter.

The nature of the invention will be understood from the following specification taken with the accompanying drawings, in which two embodiments are illustrated. In the drawings,

Fig. 1 shows an enlarged elevation of the end portions of two piles which constitute the end piles of two adjacent pile sections, these piles being spaced apart by the spacing device of the present invention in order that they may receive a connecting sheet pile which is shown above the clamp or spacing device;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, illustrating a top plan view of a portion of the clamping device;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to that of Fig. .5 2, illustrating the means for enlarging the opening in one end of one of the spacing devices to permit ready relative movement of an adjacent sheet pile therethrough;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of a modified form of spacing clamp connected to two sheet piles and having a portion thereof shown in horizontal section; and

Fig. 6 shows an elevation of the clamp and piles illustrated in Fig. 5.

The present invention is particularly adapted for use in securing together and spacing apart adjacent wall sections or panels of sheet piling, each of which is assembled from individual sheet piles and put in place with the lower ends of the piles engaging the bed of the river or harbor preliminary to being driven, the improved clamp or spacing device being employed to space apart the piles at the edges of adjacent panels or wall sections so that they are equally spaced throughv out their lengths to a degree which is adapted to permit the driving of a connecting pile after the panels are in place. The clamps or spacing devices are removed as the connecting pile is driven. Each spacing device 30 comprises a bar 30 having formed thereon a pair of bosses 30 between which are mounted a pair of clamping members 30. These clamping members are pivoted on the bosses by means of pins 3| and are provided at their ends with curved portions 30 which are adapted to extend over and conform to the curvature of the guard members Hi of two adjacent sheet piles l 6. The bar 30 of each spacing device is provided at each end with a hook-shaped portion 30 which is adapted to extend over and conform to the shape of the outer surface of the hook member l6 of the adjacent sheet pile. When the clamping members 3!] are in closed positions, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the portions 30 and 30 form between them a pair of longitudinal slots or grooves, each adapted to receive both the hook member and the guard member of an adjacent sheet pile while at the same time permitting this pile to be driven. The clamping members 30 are provided with slots 30 adapted to be engaged by lugs 32 which are formed on the bars 30 These lugs are provided with apertures 32 which are adapted to be engaged by wedgeshaped pins 33. These pins are secured to the clamping members 30 by means of chains 34 engaging apertured lugs 3t! which are formed on the outer faces of the clamping members. The bar 3|! is reenforced longitudinally by ribs 30 which extend on opposite sides of the clamping members 30 when these clamping members are in closed positions, and the bar 30* is further reenforced on its outer side by a longitudinal rib 30 with which there is integrally formed a handle 35. This handle may be engaged by a rope or chain for supporting the spacing device or lowering it into position where it is to be applied to the edges of two adjacent sheet piles. The length of each clamping device 30 is such that it spaces two adjacent sheet piles IS the required distance apart to permit another sheet pile [6 to be inserted in interlocking engagement with the spaced sheet piles after the spacing devices have been removed. If it be desired to form a somewhat loose engagement between a clamping device 30 and the adjacent sheet pile which interlocks therewith, in order to permit the pile to be driven somewhat into the bed of the river or harbor before the clamping device is removed, a shim or washer 36 may be placed over one of the lugs 32, as shown in Fig. 4, thus spacing the adjacent clamping member 30 away from the body portion of the spacing bar 30*, and the wedgeshaped pin 33 is then only partially inserted in the slot 32 of the lug.

After the spacing devices 30, which may be formed of cast, forged or rolled steel, are put in place to space adjacent wall sections or panels from each other, the wall sections occupy vertical positions in readiness for driving. Before the piles are driven, however, the spacing devices 30 are removed by taking out the wedge-shape pins or keys 33 and releasing the spacing devices which may then be elevated. As the spacing devices 30 are removed from the region of two sheet piles connected thereby, another sheet pile I6 is inserted in engagement with the other interlocking sheet piles which have previously been connected by the spacing devices, as indicated by the intermediate sheet pile I6 located above the spacing device shown in Fig. 1. The superimposed spacing devices which connect the same sheet piles may be removed in succession as the intermediate connecting sheet piling is driven downwardly.

In some instances, it may be desirable to regulate or vary the spaced relation of two adjacent sheet piles which are connected by the clamping devices of the present invention and, for this purpose, there is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 a modified form of clamping device 40 comprising relatively adjustable parts for engaging the edges of the sheet piles which are to be spaced apart. This clamping device comprises a pair of blocks t!) having threaded studs 40* projecting endwise therefrom and connected by the internally threaded turnbuckle 40 so that the spaced relation of the blocks 40 may be varied as desired. Each block 40* carries a hook-shaped jaw 40 adapted to coact with the outer surface of the hook member iii of an adjacent sheet pile and each block 40 is further provided with a pair of integrally formed projecting flanges 40 which are spaced apart to receive between them a clamping member 40 which is pivoted to the flanges 40 by a pin 40 The clamping member 4|] has a curved extremity to conform to the outer surface of the guard member Hi of an adjacent sheet pile, this clamping member and the opposed jaw 40 forming between them a slot which is engaged by the enlargement formed by the hook member and guard member at the edge of the pile. The flanges M! are provided with registering slots 40 which are adapted to be engaged by tapered pins or keys 40 for holdin the clamping members 40 in position to coact with the guard members Hi The pins or keys 40 are carried by chains 41 which are secured to apertured lugs 42 carried by the blocks 40. By adjusting the turnbuckle 40, it will be apparent that the lateral edges of the connected piles 16 may be spaced apart as desired.

Although certain forms of the invention have been shown and described by way of illustration, it will be understood that it may be constructed in various other embodiments coming within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In structure of the class described, the combination of a plurality of series of interlocking sheet piles, the piles of each series being assembled as a unit, an intervening interlocking pile, and elongated detachable spacing means including adjustable jaw members at the ends thereof engaging and conforming to the shape of the edges of the end piles of adjacent series for spacing said series apart to receive said intervening interlocking piling.

2. In combination, a pair of sheet piles spaced apart, said piles having enlarged portions along their edges adapted to interlock with other sheet piles, and an elongated spacing member extending between said sheet piles and having parts at the ends thereof detachably engaging and conforming to the shape of the external surfaces of said enlarged portions, and means for securing said parts in fixed position relative to said enlarged portions.

3. In combination, a pair of sheet piles spaced apart, said piles having enlarged portions along their edges adapted to interlock with other sheet piles, and a spacing device extending between said sheet piles and comprising relatively movable parts at the ends thereof adapted to embrace said enlarged portions to hold said sheet piles in a definite spaced relation, and means for detachably securing said parts in fixed relation to said enlarged portions.

4. The combination in a clamp for spacing sheet piles, of a bar having end portions adapted to engage said sheet piles on one side thereof,

relatively movable members carried by said bar for engaging the edges of said sheet piles on the other side thereof, and means accommodating different positions of said members for fixing the latter relative to each other and said sheet piles.

5. The combination in a spacing device for sheet piles, of a bar adapted to extend between the edges of two sheet piles and to engage said sheet piles on one side thereof, clamping members pivoted on said bar to engage the other side of said sheet piles, and means for securing said clamping members in fixed position with respect to said bar.

6. The combination in a spacing device for sheet piles, of a bar adapted to extend between the edges of two sheet piles and to engage said sheet piles on one side thereof, clamping members pivoted on said bar to engage the other side of said sheet piles, and means for securing said clamping members in fixed position with respect to said bar, and means for supporting said bar independently of said sheet piles.

'7. The combination in a clamping device for spacing sheet piles, of a single rigid bar having hook portions at its ends, clamping members pivoted on said bar and having hook members opposite said hook portions, and means for securing said clamping members in fixed relation to said bar.

8. The combination in a clamping device for spacing sheet piles, of a bar having hook portions at its ends, clamping members pivoted on said bar and having hook members opposite said hook portions, said clamping members having apertures therethrough, apertured lugs carried by said bar extending through said first-named apertures, and keys engaging the apertures in said lugs.

9. In combination, a sheet pile provided at its edges with parts adapted to interlock with another sheet pile, a spacing device detachably engaging and fitting said parts on the adjacent edges of said piles, and means for adjusting said spacing device to vary the spaced relation of said piles.

10. In combination, a pair of sheet piles spaced apart, said piles having enlarged portions along their edges adapted to interlock with other sheet piles, a spacing member extending between said sheet piles and having parts detachably interlocking with said enlarged portions, and means for adjusting the efiective length of said spacing member.

11. In combination, a pair of sheet piles each having at its edge parts shaped for interlocking engagement with an edge of another sheet pile, and means detachable without affecting the position of any of the piles for spacing said sheet piles apart to receive an intervening interlocking pile, which means includes a spacing bar, relatively movable jaw members on the ends of said bar adapted to engage the edge parts of said sheet piles, the engaging surfaces of said jaw members being shaped complementary to the respective outer surfaces of said pile edge parts engaged thereby.

12. In combination, a pair of sheet piles each having at its edge parts shaped for interlocking engagement with an edge of another sheet pile,

5 and means detachable without affecting the position of any of the piles for spacing said sheet piles apart to receive an intervening inter1ock ing pile, which means includes a spacing device, relatively movable jaw members on the ends of said device adapted to engage the edge parts of said sheet piles, the engaging surfaces of said jaw members being shaped complementary to the respective outer surfaces of said pile edge parts engaged thereby, and means for adjusting the length of said device without afiecting the movement of said jaw members relative to each other and said sheet piles.

13. In structure of the class described, a spacing device comprising a bar adapted to extend between the edges of two sheet piles, a clamping means at the opposite ends of said bar adapted to embracingly engage the adjacent edges of the sheet piles, and means for securing each said clamping means independently of the other in fixed relation with respect to the edges of said piles.

14. In structure of the class described, a spacing device comprising a spacing member adapted to extend between the edges of two sheet piles, a clamping means at the opposite ends of said spacing member adapted to embracingly engage the adjacent edges of the sheet piles, means for securing each said clamping means independently of the other in fixed relation with respect to the edges of said piles, and means for adjusting each said clamping member in longitudinal direction to accommodate varying distances between said piles.

15. In structure of the class described, a spacing device for sheet piles comprising a spacing member, a clamp member at each end of said spacing member, each clamp member having a stationary jaw and a movable jaw member adapted to embrace the adjacent edge of a sheet piling, means for securing said jaw members in fixed position relative to the piling edges, and means for adjustment of said clamp members longitudinally of said spacing member.

AUGUST H. HAUSLER. 

